🚨 If ICE comes to your home

1. Stay calm and do not open the door immediately. You may speak through the door.
2. Ask to see the warrant. Ask them to slide it under the door or show it through a window.
3. Review the document. A judicial warrant generally must be signed by a judge and correctly state the name and address. An administrative immigration warrant, by itself, is not the same as a judicial warrant authorizing entry into a home without consent.
4. Do not consent to entry. You may say: “I do not give permission to enter.” Do not physically obstruct the agents.
5. You may remain silent. Say: “I wish to remain silent and speak with an attorney.”
6. Do not sign anything you do not understand. Ask for an interpreter and legal advice before signing.

Do not use false documents, lie, or run away. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

🛡️ Basic rights during an immigration encounter

🔎 How to locate a detained person

ICE’s Online Detainee Locator System allows you to search for a person in immigration custody. To conduct a search, have one of these combinations available:

• An 8- or 9-digit A-Number and country of birth; or
• Full name, country of birth, and date of birth.

If no result appears, check the spelling, wait several hours if the detention was recent, and contact the local ICE office or the facility where you believe the person is being held. Record the full name, A-Number, place of detention, medications, and family contacts.

⚖️ Immigration court and legal help

Printed notices from the court and the Board of Immigration Appeals are the official documents in your case. EOIR’s automated system may be used for reference, but it does not replace the orders and notices you receive.

• Keep copies of all notices and envelopes.
• Update your address with the appropriate agencies; changing it with one agency does not always update it with all agencies.
• Never miss a hearing without legal guidance. An absence may result in a removal order.
• Look for an attorney with an active license or a Department of Justice-accredited representative.

🚫 Avoid fraud and “notarios”

In the United States, a notary public is generally not authorized to provide immigration legal advice. Before paying:

• Ask for the attorney’s full name and license number.
• If the person is an accredited representative, verify that they work for an organization recognized by the Department of Justice.
• Request a written contract and receipts.
• Do not hand over original documents without receiving a receipt.
• Be wary of promises of guaranteed results, “special” permits, or cash-only payments.

🏛️ What does each agency do?

📰 Verified 2026 updates

📁 Prepare a family emergency plan

• Choose two trusted contacts and memorize at least one phone number.
• Keep copies of passports, identification documents, certificates, immigration documents, and A-Numbers.
• Prepare instructions for the care of children, pets, rent, medications, and essential payments.
• Do not carry false documents. Consult a professional about which documents you should carry based on your situation.
• Explain to your children whom to call without giving them information that may cause unnecessary fear.

✅ Quick checklist before filing an application

• Confirm the current edition of the form.
• Check the filing fee and filing address.
• Keep a complete copy of everything submitted.
• Use a trackable delivery method.
• Never send originals unless the instructions require them.
• Seek authorized help if there has been an arrest, prior removal, fraud, departure from the country, or conflicting information.

Official sources consulted

USCIS — form alerts and updates; ICE — detainee locator and detention resources; DHS — immigration publications and rules; Department of Justice/EOIR — automated case information and the list of pro bono providers. These sources were reviewed on September 23, 2026.